Survey „Public awareness of issues concerning the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms in the context of the Cartagena protocol on biosafety”

Lithuania had conducted the survey of public opinion, in accordance with operational objective 2.1 of the programme of work on public awareness, education and participation (2011-2015), wich was adopted by the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety in decision BS-V/13.

The survey of public opinion on LMOs and biosafety was performed from July 11 until August 31, 2012. This survey covered all territory of Lithuania and the age of participants was between 18 and 75. In total 1082 residents of various education and profession participated in this survey.

Overall conclusions

 

 

– The majority of respondents (97,2 %) are aware of modern biotechnology and LMOs. About a half of the respondents (45,8 %) became aware of modern biotechnology less than 5 years ago. A large part (45,6 %) – 5-10 years ago or more than 10 years ago.

 

– Only 2,7 % of respondents believe that LMOs are safe, even 67,1 % – that not safe.

 

– Respondents’ knowledge about biosafety is much weaker than knowledge about LMOs. 83,1 % of respondents are not aware of Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.

 

– The most important public information source remains TV or radio (35,2 %). The second place – Internet (27,4 %), the third place – newspapers (23,9 %).

 

– The demand of information about LMOs is high and insufficient. 56,2 % of respondents are more or less dissatisfied with the available information. 51,6 % of respondents would like to get more information about LMOs and biosafety, and only for 14,9 % such information is unnecessary.

 

– 41,8 % of respondents agree that LMOs are created in laboratories for scientific purposes, 19,9,% – disagree.

 

– A large part of respondents thinks that genetically modified crops are grown in farmers‘ fields (52,4 %). This opinion is not very strong – completely agree only 2,9 %.

 

– 25,2 % of respondents know about the adverse environmental impacts of LMOs. Such information is missing and it may cause unfounded assessments.

 

– There is not enough information about LMOs threat to human health for the public. The absence of accurate information may lead to different estimation of scientific data. Also, the majority of respondents are not sufficiently aware of health care benefits.

 

– There is a lack of awareness about coexistence of LMOs with other systems of production.

 

– Respondents’ knowledge about labelling of LMOs is insufficient.

 

– About liability and redress in the event of adverse effects of LMOs know only 4,3 % of respondents.

 

– Only 9,6 % of respondents indicated that they know about LMO food safety issues.

 

– Only 2,6 % of respondents know about biosafety in Lithuania.

 

– LMO food consume only 13,3 % of respondents. Such answer could mean many things – the respondents don’t pay attention to the labelling on food packaging, or respondents rarely consume LMO food, and etc.